Mount Clemens man gets 3 years in prison for beating death in 2012

An 18-year-old Mount Clemens man was sentenced during an emotional court hearing Wednesday to three years in prison for the 2012 beating death of a 39-year-old man on a street near his home.

Sean Bozich was ordered by Macomb Circuit Judge Mary Chrzanowski to serve under the state Holmes Youth Trainee Act after he pleaded guilty last month to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Martin Jr. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Chrzanowski hesitated at granting youth sentence status, which is allowed for certain defendants aged 17 to 20, after Bozich seemed to divert responsibility and claim self-defense in his statement in court.

The judge looked at a photograph of Martin on her desk and said she wished she could ask him his opinion of the sentencing.

She asked Martin's family for input, and they conferred in court with Assistant Macomb Prosecutor J.P. Hunt.

"They said he would be the type of person to say, 'Let bygones be bygones. Let's move on,' " Hunt told the judge.

Outside court, Hunt said the family indicated Martin "had the biggest heart" and would be forgiving.

Under HYTA, the judge could release him before the three years if he successfully completes the conditions, including special programs. Under an adult sentence, Chrzanowski could have sentenced him to a lesser time, between 19 and 38 months, but he would serve in an adult prison and the charge would remain on his record.

The hearing was emotional for those on both sides of the case. Letters were read from Martin's sister and parents, all of whom were in the courtroom along with Martin's niece.

Several of Bozich's friends and family sobbed during and after the hearing.

"We will never be able to get over Michael's death," said his father, Michael, referencing his wife Betty. "We wake up thinking about Michael and we go to bed thinking about Michael."

They didn't oppose HYTA but were disappointed in the minimal amount of time Bozich will spend behind bars.

"The problem we continue to have with the sentencing process is, what is a just and fair decision in a case where the accused has taken the life of a loved one?" his father said. "Is that fair? Is my son's life worth only a couple of years?"

Involuntary manslaughter involves no intent to murder, and equates to gross negligence in civil court.

In arguing for HYTA, Bozich's attorney, Goran Antovski, noted the role his client's age played in the incident.

"He acted immaturely, perhaps impulsively, perhaps a reflection of his age and lack of life experience at his age," Antovski said. "He is remorseful."

The incident occurred the night of April 14, 2012, when an argument involving Bozich, Martin and at least one other person erupted during a gathering in front of Martin's Grove Park Street home. Bozich punched Martin multiple times, including hitting his head on a parked pickup and after Martin was on the ground.

Martin was found dead in his bed three days later from blunt force trauma to his head, according to county Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz. He had gone to McLaren Macomb hospital the day after the beating but left before receiving treatment.

Bozich weighed taking the case to trial as his attorneys believed they could gain an acquittal.

"There are various extenuating circumstances," Antovski said.

Bozich reacted to Martin making a racial slur to his 15-year-old cousin and a vulgar comment about his mother.

Bozich's defense attorneys raised the possibility that Martin might have gotten into another altercation between the time of the beating from Bozich and his death.

Martin also had health issues and had been drinking heavily, Bozich's defense attorney noted.

Bozich also blamed Martin for setting fire to his grandmother's car on the Monday following the Saturday night beating in retaliation, although that was not determined.